Grain separating machines and antiplug devices therefor



March 22, 1960 MaCGILLIVRAY ETAL 2,929,890

GRAIN SEPARATING MACHINES AND ANTI-PLUG DEVICES THEREFOR Filed Jan. 9,1959 FIG. I

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ROBERTKM GuuvnAY 5m Riucnumv AT TORNE Y8 M rh 22, 19 R. K. M GILLIVRAY ETAL 2,929,890

GRAIN SEPARATING MACHINES AND ANTI-PLUG DEVICES THEREFOR Filed Jan. 9.1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4 J

INVEN TOR. Roasnr KMCGILLIVRAY .Duwsz. R-BUCKMAN .B Y WA) A T TORNEYSGRAIN SEPARATING MACHINES AND ANTI- PLUG DEVICES THEREFOR Robert K.MacGillivray, Hopkins, and Daniel R. Bucknlan, Excelsior, Minm,assignors to Superior Separator Company, Hopkins, Minn., a corporationof Delaware Application January 9, 1959, Serial No. 785,920

3 Ciaims. (Cl. 200-61.21)

Our invention relates generally to power operated grain separatingdevices and more particularly to means for automatically rendering suchmachines inoperative under conditions wherein any one of the severalgrain discharge openings therein becomes plugged.

Machines of the type involved are conventionally powered by one largeelectric motor which is sized to operate the entire unit, and thencesuch motors are capable of exerting adequate power to destroy portionsof the machine should a plugged condition occur in any one of theirseveral discharge openings. Furthermore, many of the more conventionalprotective devices in the form of electric motor overload protection orclutches placed at or connected to the prime mover and properly sized tostart, accelerate and overcome maximum machine loading will lack thesensitivity required to detect stoppages in local areas in time toprevent damage to the components in those areas.

The primary object of our invention is the provision of mechanical meanswhereby the entire machine will be automatically rendered inoperativeunder conditions where discharged grain, due to plugging, builds upadjacent any one of the several discharge openings in the machine.

A further object of our invention is the provision of a device of theclass above described including a switch and control means therefor foreach of the several discharge spouts, said control means beingresponsive to the pressure of grain accumulating in its associateddischarge spout to render the entire machine inoperative.

A still further object of our invention is the provision of a device ofthe class immediately above described including switch operated vanesmounted for swinging movements in each of said discharge spouts towardand away from their respective discharge openings in said machine andeach positioned out of the normal path of movement of materialdischarged from their respective discharge openings.

A further point to take into consideration in laying a background forour invention is the fact that such machines are required to operate inan explosive atmosphere containing grain dust and that therefore suchprotective devices must afford a maximum of safety; With this in mind, afurther object of our invention is the provision of devices of the typeabove described which afford a maximum of safety in their operation.

A further object of our invention is the provision of devices of thetype above described which incorporate a minimum of working parts andwhich are relatively inexpensive to produce.

A further object of our invention is the provision of a device of theclass described wherein the switch operating vane is mounted in ahousing having opposite side wall portions which prevent grain fromaccumulating behind said vane, whereby to assure rearward swingingmovements of said vane to actuate said switch under plugged conditions.

A further object of our invention is the provision of nited StatesPatent 2,929,899 Patented Mar. 22, 196i) "ice a device of the classimmediately above described in which said housing includes a perforatefront portion exposing said vane to material accumulating in said spout,but limiting swinging movements of said vane toward said dischargeopening.

A still further object of our invention is the provision of a device ofthe class above described in which said housing defines an opening inthe lower end thereof for gravity release therefrom ofgrain enteringtherein through said perforate front wall under abnormal accumulation ofgrain in said spout.

A still further object of our invention is the provision of a device ofthe class above described which is positive in its operation andfoolproof.

The above and still further objects of our invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims andattached drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters indicate like partsthroughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional grain separating machineincorporating our invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation of one form ofour invention, some parts being broken away and some parts shown insection;

Fig. 3 is a view partly in horizontal section and partly in top plan asseen from the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, some parts being broken away; 7 v

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of one of the dischargehoppers of the machine of Fig. 1, showing a modified form of ourinvention, some parts being broken away and some parts shown in section;

Fig. 5 is a view in front elevation as seen from the line 5-5 of Fig. 4,some parts being removed and some parts being broken away;

Fig. 6 is a view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section as seenfrom the line 6-6 of Fig. 4, some parts being removed; and i Fig. 7 isaview in side elevation showing a modified form of mounting bracketfor'thecontrol device of the instant invention.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, and initially tothe structure of Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the numeral 1 indicates in itsentirety a conventional power operated grain separating machine having aplurality of discharge spouts, only two'of which are here identified bythe numerals 2 and 3. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the spout 2communicates at an upper end portion with a discharge opening 4 in theside wall 5 of the machine 1, and at its lower end with a verticallydisposed depending discharge boot or leg 6.

Mounted within the discharge spout 2 for swinging movements on ahorizontal axis 7 toward and away from the discharge opening 4 in themachine 1, is a vane 8. Specifically this is accomplished through themedium of a mounting bracket 9 secured to one side 10 of the spout 2,extending througha suitable opening therein and having a pair ofvertically disposed laterally spaced flanges 11. A control switch 12 forthe electrical drive motor, not shown, for the machine 1, is providedwith a mounting stem 13 which extends through the mounting bracket 9,andwhich terminates at its inner end immediately below the pivotalconnection 7 of the vane 8. An actuating plunger 14 for the switch 12extends through the stem 13' and is yieldingly biased into engagementwith the vain: 8 by means of a coil compression spring 15 containedwithin the stem 13, in the usual manner.

Under the arrangement above described, when the discharge boot or leg 6becomes plugged, for one reason or another, that portion of theprocessed grain discharged through the opening 4, will accumulate in theleg 6 until it reaches the level of the vane 8. At such a level, thepressure of the grain forces the vane 8 laterally outwardly orrearwatdly on its pivotal connection 7, forcing the operating plunger 14inwardly against the bias of the spring 15 to actuate the switch 12 andstop the electric pistol; not shown hutassociated with and impartingpower. to-thegrain separator 1.- Thus, the operations ofthe machine 1are terminated before any accumulation of grain therewithin, and damageto the machine 1 from such accumulation is thereby avoided.

' It might here be stated that because of the relatively small surfacearea, afforded by the vane 8, the structure of Figs. 1 to 3inclusive-are particularly adaptable for use.adjacenta-discharge opening'4 wherein direct inechanical pressure'on the-processed ,grain isapplied by ticularlyin Pig, 4, a;1ip 22 extends laterally across theopen front 23,;fora purposewhich will-immediately hereinafter beexplained.

Securedto the preferably imperforate back wall 23 of the-housing 16 andprojecting upwardly therefrom is a mounting bracket'24 which defines apair of laterally spacedparallel mounting, ears 25 which extendgenerally in thedirectionof the discharge aperture 21. Mounted forpivotal movements on a pivot pin 26 extending between the mounting earslz': for'swinging movements towardiand away from the discharge aperture21, is a' .vane 27, the lower; end 28 of which extends into the housing16 adjacent the open front end 20'thereof. As

there=shown,- the extreme lower end ZS-of the vane 27.

engages the lip 22 and thereby limits swinging movements thereof in thedirection of the discharge aperture 21.

The switch 12a is secured in operative position with respect to the vane27 through the medium of a set screw 29 which locks the stem 13a withinthehorizontal bore 30in thernounting bracket 24. The actuating plunger14a is biased toward engagement with the-vane 27, immediatelybelow thepivotal connectionZfi theroef by means of the coilfspring 15a.

The operation-ofthe structureof Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive is. substantiallyidenticalto that of the structure of Figs.

1 to 3 inclusive, namely as the grain builds up in the dischargespout 3,due to stoppage or pluggingof the discharge boot associated therewithbut not specifically shown, when it reaches the level of Fig. 4, itenters the open front 20 of the housing ld and forces the vane 27rearwardly or= laterally outwardly, thus actuating the plungerddaagainstthebias of spring 15a to openthe switch 12a and 'cut off the electricmotor associatedwith and. imparting power to the separator 1. In thestructure of Figs 4 to 7 inclusive, however, the sidewalls 19 ofith'ehousing. 16 positively prevent the grainfrom accumulating 'rearwardly ofthe vane 27. Obviously such accumulation is undesirable in that it wouldprevent switch actuating movements from being imparted to the vane27. Itwill be noted that the bottom of the housing .15 is apertured asat 31 topermit grain accumulating therein under abnormal-plugged conditions, toescape therefrom under the action of gravity when the discharge spout isunplugged.

5 Because of the greater surface area presented by the relatively largervane 27, this arrangement has been found to be particularly adaptablefor use adjacent discharge openings'where no direct mechanical pressureis applied to the processed material discharged therefrom to the vane 27being activated solely by the weight of the accumulating processedmaterial.

In the slightly modified form of our invention shown in Fig. 7, means isdisclosed for securing a housing 16 and associated anti-plug mechanismin closely spaced l5 relation to a discharge boot do. As there shown,the angular mounting bracket 18a is secured to a mounting plate 32, theopen front end portion 20 thereof extending through a'suitable openingin the side of the boot 6a, so that the lower. end portion 28 of thevane27 will be 0 exposedto accumulating grain in the boot 6:: upon pluggingthereof.

Our invention has been thoroughly tested and found tobecompletelyrsatisfactory for the accomplishment of theabove objects, andwhile we have shown a preferred 25 embodimentthereof, we wish it tobeunderstood that same may be capable of modification without departurefrom the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

'What we claim is: e

1. In a device of the class described, a power operated 3O grain:separator having an opening in one side thereof 'fordischarge ofprocessed material therefrom, a discharge spout communicating withsaiddischarge opening, a control switch for said separator, means mountingsaid switch in close proximity to said spout, and switch actuatormechanism for said switch, said actuator mechanism including a vanemounted .for swinging movements in saidspout'toward and away from saidopening and positioned out of the normal path of movement of materialdischarged from said opening. linkage connecting said 40 vane with saidswitch, means yieldingly biasing said vane toward said path of movement,said vane being responsive' to the weight of discharge materialaccumulating in said spout to operate said switch against bias of said Myieldingmeans to render said machine inoperative, and

'a stationary housing for the lower end portionof said vane, saidhousingincluding opposite side wall'portions one each spaced from an oppositeside edge of said vane and which prevent grain from accumulating behindsaid vane. I a

2., The struct-ure definedin claim 1 in whichrsaid housingfjnclucles-fa-perforate front'wall exposing said vane to materialaccumulating'in said'spout but limiting swinging movements ofsaid'vanetoward said dischargeopening.

' 3; The structure defined in claim 2 in which said housing defines anopening in the lower end thereof for gravity release-therefrom of grainentering therein through saidjperforate front wall under abnormalaccumulation of grain in said spout.

69" References Citedjin the .file of this patent UNITED"STATES PATENTS

